He was faster than me, but the next second, he tossed it into the trash bin beside him.
I still had some standards, so I was about to say, "I'm not taking any pills for you."
Huston seemed to know what I was thinking. "You won't need them. It's not my number. Next time, don't go to the trouble. I've got some at home."
I awkwardly avoided his gaze.
Next time?
Noah had disgusted me so many times that unless Huston's skills were so good that one time could make up for countless times with Noah, there wouldn't be a next time.
I followed Huston into his home. Although he was only staying for a few months, he had everything he needed.
Huston handed me a pair of clean slippers. He had just moved in and hadn't had any female guests yet. The men's slippers were too big for me, but that didn't matter. I wasn't here for the slippers—I was here to sleep with him. All I needed was a bed, and if there wasn't one, I could make do.
He took off his coat and tossed it casually onto the sofa.
"Do you want to shower first, or should we shower together?"
"I've already showered."
He smiled again. I couldn't quite describe that smile—it was a bit mischievous, a bit roguish, but different from the way he was in college. Maybe it was the alcohol clouding my judgment.
He didn't take long in the shower. When he came out, his hair was still dripping wet. I watched as a drop of water rolled down from his collarbone to his abs, eventually disappearing into his waistband. The small spark inside me suddenly flared up, burning away any remaining sense of decency.
The alcohol blurred the process. After cooling down on the balcony, the embarrassing memories returned with clarity.
He was changHe was changing the sheets, his back turned to me. I saw the scratch marks on his back, and my ears burned. I left his home without saying a word.
Before Noah came back, I didn't feel a single ounce of satisfaction from my little revenge. You couldn't truly empathize until you had gone through the same thing.
This week, I used my period as an excuse not to sleep in the same bed with him. He had suspicions in his heart, but didn't say anything.
Just after he got home, Ava arrived with a bag of fresh fruit. "I heard you're having hotpot at home this weekend. Count me in."
Noah said, "Are on a diet? Hotpot is high in calories."
Ava smiled. "It's okay to indulge once in a while."